• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

New rig, 2500K or 3570K?

Joined
Oct 7, 2009
Messages
396 (0.07/day)
System Name Just A Gaming Rig.
Processor AMD FX-8320 @4.1GHz, 1.268V
Motherboard ASUS M5A97 Evo R2.0
Cooling Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
Memory 8 GB Crucial Ballistix Sport 1600MHz
Video Card(s) Club 3D R9 280X 3GB royalQueen, @1115/1615MHz
Storage OS+Often used stuff: Kingston SSDNow V300 120GB, Mass storage: WD Blue 1TB
Case Zalman Z3 Plus
Audio Device(s) Integrated
Power Supply Corsair CX600M
Software Windows 8.1 64-bit
I've been wanting to build a new rig since the end of last year, but I held off thinking that both Ivy Bridge and the new 28nm graphics cards are coming in 1H 2012. Now that AMD has launched most of their desktop cards (I don't see any point in waiting for mid-range Keplers, since they will price them according to performance anyway), and Ivy Bridge was released, it's time to get started. But there is one issue that has been bothering me...

I can't really decide if I should get the old 2nd gen i5 2500K, or the new 3rd gen i5 3570K. The only things that the i5 3570K can offer is better IGP(which I don't need at all), very marginal performance increase in benchmarks and PCIe 3.0. On the other hand it doesn't overclock any better, if anything it clocks worse, there's absolutely no difference in games, and it also puts out quite a lot of heat. Not only that, the 2500K costs around 30€ less. Which one is a better choice, if the main usage of the rig will be gaming?
 
Joined
Mar 24, 2010
Messages
5,047 (0.98/day)
Location
Iberian Peninsula
Good questions. I have a 2500k and I am looking into this too. Seems that, again, it is not a groundbreaking difference. Will i be able to keep this parts 2 more years? :)
 
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
191 (0.03/day)
System Name "the strong silent type"
Processor i5 3570k
Motherboard Asus Maximus V Gene
Cooling Thermalright Archon
Memory G.Skill RipjawsX D3 8GB 1866-899 RipjawsX K2 GSK
Video Card(s) XFX 6950 1GB dualfan
Storage Crucial M4 128GB / Samsung F3 HD103SJ 1TB
Display(s) LG W2253V
Case CM 690 II Advanced
Power Supply Coolermaster Silent Pro Gold 600w
Software Win 7 Ultimate 64bit
Well if you are satisfied with a smaller oc, like 4.4~4.5 mhz, hardly touching the voltage, the 3570k is actually the better solution, and perhaps even the cooler solution.

If you want to clock beyond that and get most mhz per $ I'd go with a 2500k or the 2550k, what kinda cooling solution are you planning, and i'm assuming you're buying everything new?

I myself have been contemplating the same problem, however I am gonna gamble lucid virtu mvp is going to be good once matured, and I'll be replacing my 6950 in a couple of years when 3.0 pcie might be useful. ALso I've decided I can live with 4.5 on air, so I'll go with 3570k.

However i've got my eyes on the maximus formula board, so I'll be waiting a couple of weeks still ;)


Hope my own contemplations are you helping you in anyway if not sowwy ;)
 
Joined
Sep 7, 2010
Messages
818 (0.16/day)
Location
Nairobi, Kenya
Processor Intel Core i7-14700K
Motherboard ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-H
Cooling DeepCool AK500 WH
Memory Crucial Pro 32GB Kit (2x16GB) DDR5-5600 (CP2K16G56C46U5)
Video Card(s) Intel ARC A770 Limited Edition
Storage Solidigm P44 Pro 2TB / Solidigm P44 Pro 2TB / PNY CS3140 2TB
Display(s) Philips 32M1N5800A
Case Lian Li O11 Air Mini (White)
Power Supply Seasonic Prime Fanless Titanium 600W
Keyboard Dell KM714 Wireless
Software Windows 11 Pro x64
Get the i5 3570K if you can it has PCI E 3.0 Lanes which will come in handy
 

Fourstaff

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
10,020 (1.91/day)
Location
Home
System Name Orange! // ItchyHands
Processor 3570K // 10400F
Motherboard ASRock z77 Extreme4 // TUF Gaming B460M-Plus
Cooling Stock // Stock
Memory 2x4Gb 1600Mhz CL9 Corsair XMS3 // 2x8Gb 3200 Mhz XPG D41
Video Card(s) Sapphire Nitro+ RX 570 // Asus TUF RTX 2070
Storage Samsung 840 250Gb // SX8200 480GB
Display(s) LG 22EA53VQ // Philips 275M QHD
Case NZXT Phantom 410 Black/Orange // Tecware Forge M
Power Supply Corsair CXM500w // CM MWE 600w
3570K if its within $15 of the 2500K, anything on top of that the power saved by the 3570K is not worth the 2500K. This is done according to the assumption that you will not push your chip to max oc, but rather max performance/power. If you are interested in the extra 0.5Ghz, then 2500K.
 
Joined
Jul 21, 2008
Messages
5,174 (0.90/day)
System Name [Daily Driver]
Processor [Ryzen 7 5800X3D]
Motherboard [Asus TUF GAMING X570-PLUS]
Cooling [be quiet! Dark Rock Slim]
Memory [64GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3600MHz (16GBx4)]
Video Card(s) [PNY RTX 3070Ti XLR8]
Storage [1TB SN850 NVMe, 4TB 990 Pro NVMe, 2TB 870 EVO SSD, 2TB SA510 SSD]
Display(s) [2x 27" HP X27q at 1440p]
Case [Fractal Meshify-C]
Audio Device(s) [Steelseries Arctis Pro]
Power Supply [CORSAIR RMx 1000]
Mouse [Logitech G Pro Wireless]
Keyboard [Logitech G512 Carbon (GX-Brown)]
Software [Windows 11 64-Bit]
3570K if its within $15 of the 2500K, anything on top of that the power saved by the 3570K is not worth the 2500K. This is done according to the assumption that you will not push your chip to max oc, but rather max performance/power. If you are interested in the extra 0.5Ghz, then 2500K.

^^

If their similarly priced then the 3570K.. Otherwise you can problly find a 2500k used for cheap with the early ivy adopters jumping over.
 
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
1,077 (0.20/day)
System Name Primary Rig
Processor e8500 Q822A549 4.5ghz AIR
Motherboard Foxconn Mars P35
Cooling TRUE
Memory 2 x2GB Patriot Viper 1066 5-5-5-12 @ 1.8v
Video Card(s) Sapphire 5870 Unlocked
Storage 300gb Velociraptor
Display(s) Dell 24" Ultrasharp
Case Coolermaster CM690
Power Supply PC Power & Cooling 750w Quad Silencer
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x86
New rig - go 3570k plus z77 and play with Virtu MVP at 4.5-4.6ghz.

Only reason to go older:
1) z68 and P67 mobos new and used are cheaper
2) You can find someone to sell to you a "proven clocker" that can do 4.7-4.8ghz.
A lot of 2500k's are very mediocre at hit a reasonable voltage ceiling at 4.4-4.6ghz.
3570k's easily clock to 4.5-4.6ghz it'll be the temps that stop you.
And a 3570k will perform like a 2500k that is 200-300mhz higher that it is.
 
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
2,356 (0.49/day)
Location
VT
Processor Intel i7-10700k
Motherboard Gigabyte Aurorus Ultra z490
Cooling Corsair H100i RGB
Memory 32GB (4x8GB) Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3200MHz
Video Card(s) MSI Gaming Trio X 3070 LHR
Display(s) ASUS MG278Q / AOC G2590FX
Case Corsair X4000 iCue
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair RM650x 650W Fully Modular
Software Windows 10
I'd say go for the IB chip, since it's a lot more energy efficient and outperforms SB chips clock for clock. If you can get a 2500K to 4.8GHz, it still will only perform like a 3570K at 4.4GHz, and use a lot more power in the process. At stock speeds the 3570K outperforms the 2500K by about 5-10%.
 

MxPhenom 216

ASIC Engineer
Joined
Aug 31, 2010
Messages
12,945 (2.60/day)
Location
Loveland, CO
System Name Ryzen Reflection
Processor AMD Ryzen 9 5900x
Motherboard Gigabyte X570S Aorus Master
Cooling 2x EK PE360 | TechN AM4 AMD Block Black | EK Quantum Vector Trinity GPU Nickel + Plexi
Memory Teamgroup T-Force Xtreem 2x16GB B-Die 3600 @ 14-14-14-28-42-288-2T 1.45v
Video Card(s) Zotac AMP HoloBlack RTX 3080Ti 12G | 950mV 1950Mhz
Storage WD SN850 500GB (OS) | Samsung 980 Pro 1TB (Games_1) | Samsung 970 Evo 1TB (Games_2)
Display(s) Asus XG27AQM 240Hz G-Sync Fast-IPS | Gigabyte M27Q-P 165Hz 1440P IPS | Asus 24" IPS (portrait mode)
Case Lian Li PC-011D XL | Custom cables by Cablemodz
Audio Device(s) FiiO K7 | Sennheiser HD650 + Beyerdynamic FOX Mic
Power Supply Seasonic Prime Ultra Platinum 850
Mouse Razer Viper v2 Pro
Keyboard Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
Software Windows 11 Pro 64-Bit
i'd say go for the ib chip, since it's a lot more energy efficient and outperforms sb chips clock for clock. If you can get a 2500k to 4.8ghz, it still will only perform like a 3570k at 4.4ghz, and use a lot more power in the process. At stock speeds the 3570k outperforms the 2500k by about 5-10%.

^^this
 
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
1,077 (0.20/day)
System Name Primary Rig
Processor e8500 Q822A549 4.5ghz AIR
Motherboard Foxconn Mars P35
Cooling TRUE
Memory 2 x2GB Patriot Viper 1066 5-5-5-12 @ 1.8v
Video Card(s) Sapphire 5870 Unlocked
Storage 300gb Velociraptor
Display(s) Dell 24" Ultrasharp
Case Coolermaster CM690
Power Supply PC Power & Cooling 750w Quad Silencer
Software Windows 7 Ultimate x86
Well, about a 300mhz difference in Cinebench as tested by myself:
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
377 (0.09/day)
Location
Rizal, Philippines
System Name Poor Man's Build
Processor Intel i7 3960X 4.9Ghz Sandy Bridge E
Motherboard MSi X79A-GD65 8D
Cooling XSPC 240mm and 360MM (External) Rad
Memory 64Gb Corsair Dominator Platinum
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX770 SC ACX SLI (non water cooled yet)
Storage Intel 520 240GB SSD x2 /x2 WD Caviar Black 3TB 7200RPM 64MB Cache
Display(s) ASUS 27" 2560X1440 x3
Case Corsair 900D (upgraded from my lvl 10 gt and 600T)
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar Essence STX
Power Supply Corsair AX1200i 80PLUS Platinum
Software Windows 7 Ultimate (FPP)
i5 2500k only if you can get it cheaper than the i5 ivy K with a 20$ or greater difference in price
 
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
368 (0.07/day)
Location
Over There
System Name Games for Breakfast
Processor i7 2600k @ 4.3ghz
Motherboard ASRrock Z77 extreme6
Cooling Cooler Master TX3 Dual Fan
Memory 16GB DDR3 - RipjawsX 1600 1.5v @ 8-8-8-22 1T
Video Card(s) Asus AMD R9 290 4GB Reference PCB
Storage Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB
Display(s) HP 22vx IPS LED
Case Cooler Master Elite 331
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair TX650 V1
Keyboard CM Storm Devastator
Software Windows 10 64bit
I don't think any Sandy Bridge owners need to worry about Ivy at all.

When compared clock-for-clock (like 2700k vs 3770k), the difference is actually quite minimal.

I don't really understand why most reviews pitted the 3770k against the 2600k, when using a 2700k would have isolated only the IPC gains.

Anyway, for anyone running a 2500k or 2600k right now, don't bother with IB.
 

Fourstaff

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
10,020 (1.91/day)
Location
Home
System Name Orange! // ItchyHands
Processor 3570K // 10400F
Motherboard ASRock z77 Extreme4 // TUF Gaming B460M-Plus
Cooling Stock // Stock
Memory 2x4Gb 1600Mhz CL9 Corsair XMS3 // 2x8Gb 3200 Mhz XPG D41
Video Card(s) Sapphire Nitro+ RX 570 // Asus TUF RTX 2070
Storage Samsung 840 250Gb // SX8200 480GB
Display(s) LG 22EA53VQ // Philips 275M QHD
Case NZXT Phantom 410 Black/Orange // Tecware Forge M
Power Supply Corsair CXM500w // CM MWE 600w
When compared clock-for-clock (like 2700k vs 3770k), the difference is actually quite minimal.

This is essentially the problem, which one would you get if the 2700K is slightly less expensive than the 3770K?
 
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
368 (0.07/day)
Location
Over There
System Name Games for Breakfast
Processor i7 2600k @ 4.3ghz
Motherboard ASRrock Z77 extreme6
Cooling Cooler Master TX3 Dual Fan
Memory 16GB DDR3 - RipjawsX 1600 1.5v @ 8-8-8-22 1T
Video Card(s) Asus AMD R9 290 4GB Reference PCB
Storage Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB
Display(s) HP 22vx IPS LED
Case Cooler Master Elite 331
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair TX650 V1
Keyboard CM Storm Devastator
Software Windows 10 64bit
This is essentially the problem, which one would you get if the 2700K is slightly less expensive than the 3770K?

Tough choice. For less money, I would go with 2600k/2700k most likely.
 

brandonwh64

Addicted to Bacon and StarCrunches!!!
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Messages
19,542 (3.66/day)
Honestly, Find a used 2600K and enjoy it. 10-15% in daily stuff is almost not noticeable.
 
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
368 (0.07/day)
Location
Over There
System Name Games for Breakfast
Processor i7 2600k @ 4.3ghz
Motherboard ASRrock Z77 extreme6
Cooling Cooler Master TX3 Dual Fan
Memory 16GB DDR3 - RipjawsX 1600 1.5v @ 8-8-8-22 1T
Video Card(s) Asus AMD R9 290 4GB Reference PCB
Storage Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB
Display(s) HP 22vx IPS LED
Case Cooler Master Elite 331
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair TX650 V1
Keyboard CM Storm Devastator
Software Windows 10 64bit
Honestly, Find a used 2600K and enjoy it. 10-15% in daily stuff is almost not noticeable.

It's even less than 10%.

When Intel announced that the 3770k would be 10% faster than 2600k, they were factoring in the 100mhz speed bump of the 3770k. Which in my opinion is a bit like cheating.

Most reviews showed the 3770k against the 2600k, and the 3770k has a 100mhz speed advantage.

For example, one of the best reviews i've read was the HardOCP one, which tested the 2600k and the 3770k @ 4ghz.

And in fact, the differences are minimal. So I agree, if you already have a SB CPU, IB is totally unnecessary.
 

brandonwh64

Addicted to Bacon and StarCrunches!!!
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Messages
19,542 (3.66/day)
It's even less than 10%.

When Intel announced that the 3770k would be 10% faster than 2600k, they were factoring in the 100mhz speed bump of the 3770k. Which in my opinion is a bit like cheating.

Most reviews showed the 3770k against the 2600k, and the 3770k has a 100mhz speed advantage.

For example, one of the best reviews i've read was the HardOCP one, which tested the 2600k and the 3770k @ 4ghz.

And in fact, the differences are minimal. So I agree, if you already have a SB CPU, IB is totally unnecessary.

Yea, I read that one as well. Good comparisons they did! I love my 2600K and it does exactly what I need it to do.
 
Joined
Oct 13, 2007
Messages
233 (0.04/day)
Location
Australia, SA
System Name Computer MkVIII
Processor 2500K @ 4.5ghz
Motherboard ASUS Sabertooth P67
Cooling CPU: 212+ EVO GPU: Stock
Memory 16gb G.Skill Ares @2133mhz
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 980 SC
Storage 1x Samsung 840 EVO 1TB
Display(s) 24" Asus VE248
Case Corsair Carbide 300R
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair HX-650
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
Obviously the only real performance increase will be through PCIE 3.0, but unless you game at 2560x1440+ you won't really notice the difference. If you do plan on gaming with surround 5760+ res then PCIE 3.0 is actually a pretty big difference, especially with SLI (~20-30fps)


Source
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
377 (0.09/day)
Location
Rizal, Philippines
System Name Poor Man's Build
Processor Intel i7 3960X 4.9Ghz Sandy Bridge E
Motherboard MSi X79A-GD65 8D
Cooling XSPC 240mm and 360MM (External) Rad
Memory 64Gb Corsair Dominator Platinum
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX770 SC ACX SLI (non water cooled yet)
Storage Intel 520 240GB SSD x2 /x2 WD Caviar Black 3TB 7200RPM 64MB Cache
Display(s) ASUS 27" 2560X1440 x3
Case Corsair 900D (upgraded from my lvl 10 gt and 600T)
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar Essence STX
Power Supply Corsair AX1200i 80PLUS Platinum
Software Windows 7 Ultimate (FPP)
yeah go with either sandy or ivy, either of the 2 work well specially whichever you can find cheaper,
 
Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
3,881 (0.89/day)
To OP

IGP isn't the only thing the 3570K offers over the 2500K. I'm afraid if you been browsing reviews from most enthusiest site i can see how you come to that conclusion. Most of those sites have been dumb down with their review process over the years.

My sugguestion is if your only concern is to see a high mhz number and save money go for the 2500K. If you want the latest tech go with the 3570K. Around my area the differance is 10-20 dollars.

Its all dependant if your building your new system from the ground up or using old parts. I wouldn't take the heat issue to heart. IB overclocks better with lower volts but right now its a race to get the most out of them. Same thing happend when SB was introduced, go back to read those reviews. IB you can reach 4.5ghz normally where SB you have to stress it and hit the limit. Ivy-Bridge chips scale much better with faster memory then the Sandy-Bridge chips. You have to do a little digging around on the review sites for that one aswell. It all really depends on what your going to use it for but if its a game machine. There really isnt any reason to O.C. in the first place. Its the equivalent of putting a Rear spoiler on a Toyota Prius.:laugh:

IB scales better faster and better memory support has PCI-E 3.0 for future proof and the Z77 motherboards have internal native support for USB 3.0 no wire re-routing. Alot of other goodies too.
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
377 (0.09/day)
Location
Rizal, Philippines
System Name Poor Man's Build
Processor Intel i7 3960X 4.9Ghz Sandy Bridge E
Motherboard MSi X79A-GD65 8D
Cooling XSPC 240mm and 360MM (External) Rad
Memory 64Gb Corsair Dominator Platinum
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX770 SC ACX SLI (non water cooled yet)
Storage Intel 520 240GB SSD x2 /x2 WD Caviar Black 3TB 7200RPM 64MB Cache
Display(s) ASUS 27" 2560X1440 x3
Case Corsair 900D (upgraded from my lvl 10 gt and 600T)
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar Essence STX
Power Supply Corsair AX1200i 80PLUS Platinum
Software Windows 7 Ultimate (FPP)
1$ = 42.7 Pesos(PHP)

i5 2500K = 220.14$ PHP 9400.00
i5 3570K = 235.59$ PHP 10060.00
i7 3770k = 362.27$ PHP 15470.00
i7 2700K = 351.26$ PHP 14999.00

and the more expensive z77 mobo than a z68, if a person would go budget imo the sandy bridge is a better path.

few days ago I build my wife her gaming pc,
i5 2500k
z68 ext3 gen3
Sapphire hd 7970 Dual X
G.SKILL Ripjaws Z 16gb (4X4GB)1600mhz
WDCB 1TB
Seasonic x760
nzxt phantom white
Liteon x24 MFDW
dell 23" led lcd monitor

for 70,000 PHP (1639.34$)
if I were to get Ivy of equivalent

it will be 79,540 PHP (1862.76$) it's 200$ move, imo if your in this similar budget it's better to go sandy but ivy is a good cpu as well.
 
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
1,585 (0.30/day)
Location
Los Angeles/Orange County CA
System Name Vulcan
Processor i6 6600K
Motherboard GIGABYTE Z170X UD3
Cooling Thermaltake Frio Silent 14
Memory 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB)
Video Card(s) ASUS Strix GTX 970
Storage Mushkin Enhanced Reactor 1TB SSD
Display(s) QNIX 27 Inch 1440p
Case Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s) On Board
Power Supply Cooler Master V750
Software Win 10 64-bit
I may be biased, but I say 2500K. You can get a better deal, clock it to 4.6 or so, and not see any big difference.
 
Top